World’s largest pencil maker accuses Costa Rica of misusing old factory as detention center 09. February 2026 (13:00) Faber-Castell says it was unaware its facility was being used to detain asylum seekers deported by the Trump administrationThe world’s largest pencil maker has accused the Costa Rican government of misusing an old factory that the German manufacturer donated for humanitarian purposes – by detaining asylum seekers there who were deported from the US by the Trump administration last year.Faber-Castell produces more than 2bn wooden pencils a year worldwide and used to have a factory in the southern part of Costa Rica, bordering Panama and supplied by trees cultivated in the region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Disturbing’: Australian government demands review of Roblox’s PG rating after reports of child grooming 09. February 2026 (12:30) Communications minister Anika Wells points to media reports alleging children can access spaces meant for adults which include explicit sexual contentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReports of child grooming and vile content on popular game service Roblox has “alarmed” the communications minister, Anika Wells, who has demanded the platform explain how it is addressing sexual and self-harm material, and that its PG rating be examined by the Australian Classification Board.The eSafety Commissioner has also written to the game platform, saying it plans to test the promises it made about keeping children safe online, including disabling chat features and making underage accounts private. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
53 dead or missing after migrant boat capsizes in Mediterranean 09. February 2026 (12:17) Only two survivors rescued in tragedy off Libyan coast, UN migration agency saysThe UN migration agency said 53 people had died or were missing after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast. Only two survivors were rescued.The International Organization for Migration said the boat overturned north of Zuwara on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU calls for ‘immediate’ release of Jimmy Lai after ‘politically motivated prosecution’ – Europe live 09. February 2026 (11:54) Strongly worded statement says bloc ‘deplores’ 20-year sentence for the pro-democracy figure in Hong KongJimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offencesDiplomatic editorEurope has come to the painful realisation that it needs to be more assertive and more militarily independent from an authoritarian US administration that no longer shares a commitment to liberal democratic norms and values, a report prepared by the Munich Security Conference asserts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Spain and Portugal hit by third deadly storm in two weeks 09. February 2026 (11:33) Storm Marta sweeps Iberian peninsula just days after Storms Kristin and Leonardo brought deadly flooding and major damageSpain and Portugal have endured another storm over the weekend, just days after the deadly flooding and major damage caused by Storm Kristin and Storm Leonardo last week. Storm Marta passed over the Iberian peninsula on Saturday, bringing fresh torrential rain and killing two people. Storm Kristin killed at least five people after it made landfall on 28 January with Storm Leonardo claiming another victim last Wednesday.The outlook for this week is for more rain across Spain, Portugal and France, especially across north-west Portugal, where more than 100mm is possible during the first half of the week. Some of the heaviest of the rain will transfer to southern Italy and western parts of Greece and Turkey later in the week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visit 09. February 2026 (11:32) Grace Tame and Lidia Thorpe address crowds in Sydney and Melbourne as thousands take to streetsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew South Wales police have pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march in defiance of a state law.Thousands of people also protested in Melbourne against Herzog’s four-day visit, which began on Monday, with some clashing with police. Victoria police appeared to use pepper spray on at least one protester. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump calls Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance ‘absolutely terrible’ – US politics live 09. February 2026 (11:23) President criticises Puerto Rican musician’s half-time show as a ‘slap in the face’ in lengthy tirade on social mediaUS vice-president JD Vance will visit Armenia and Azerbaijan this week to push a Washington-brokered peace agreement that could transform energy and trade routes in the strategic South Caucasus region.His two-day trip to Armenia, which begins later on Monday, comes just six months after the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders signed an agreement at the White House seen as the first step towards peace after nearly 40 years of war, Reuters reports. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Prince and Princess of Wales ‘deeply concerned’ by Epstein revelations 09. February 2026 (11:02) William and Kate ‘remain focused on victims’ in their first words on scandal involving Andrew Mountbatten-WindsorThe Prince and Princess of Wales have been “deeply concerned” by the revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Kensington Palace has said.It is the first time the views of William and Catherine have been known about the crisis, which has engulfed the monarchy and Westminster, and their thoughts “remain focused on the victims”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Europe’s ‘painful’ realisation it must be bolder with US set out in security report 09. February 2026 (10:00) Need for greater military autonomy also accepted, says report for Munich Security Conference, which takes place this weekEurope has come to the painful realisation that it needs to be more assertive and more militarily independent from an authoritarian US administration that no longer shares a commitment to liberal democratic norms and values, a report prepared by the Munich Security Conference asserts.The report sets the scene for an all-out ideological confrontation with the Trump White House at the high-level annual meeting of security policy specialists, which starts on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NatWest to buy wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7bn 09. February 2026 (09:33) Banking group beats Barclays to snare biggest acquisition since it was bailed out by taxpayers in 2008Business live – latest updatesNatWest has agreed a £2.7bn deal to buy Evelyn Partners, one of the UK’s biggest wealth managers, in the bank’s largest acquisition since it was bailed out by taxpayers in 2008.The move signals an attempt to bolster the wealth management business for the banking group, which returned to full private ownership last year, and already owns the private bank Coutts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
